As to the question of exercise if she had any more I think she’d collapse! I live in the countryside and she has the free run of about 2 ache’s. I also take her out for about a 3 mile walk/run every day. And most weekends we go to the coast and as well as a walk/run she has a swim.
I went and bought some toys for her today, to add to the ones she already has. She decapitated one in about 5mins, which I then took back and exchanged for a sturdier one. She’s started to chew that which is a bonus. I’m looking into getting a crate/cage and might buy one this weekend. I don’t think drugging her is the answer.
I’ve told my girlfriend to put all her stuff away where the dog can’t get it. She’ll be on her own tonight for a couple of hours so I’ll report back when I get in.
This is the one thing you need to remember. Dogs chew for many reasons, and an important one is that they need to “set” their teeth while they are pups. This involves lots of chewing, on lots of things. My Great Dane chewed the corner off of a wooden table, 1 inch thick wood, about a 3 inch deep triangle, the whole corner of the table gone.
It’s just part of the drill.
Rest assured, the need to teeth will diminish as they get older. On a German Shepherd, I would estimate her teeth should be all the way and “set” at around the age of 1 year, give or take a month or two.
So be patient, and listen to the advice above. Crating while away is the best option.
There are a lot of reasons dogs (and cats) chew on things. Boredom, loneliness, aggression, oral fixation (“mouthiness”). Given that she’s a pup still and only does this when alone, it kind of sounds like boredom and loneliness. Dogs are like kids, you leave them alone with nothing to do, and they’re going to get into trouble. Crate training and a variety of toys can help with this (it helps to rotate the toys so some of them always seem new).
On the other hand, you imply that she only chews your girlfriend’s stuff, and that sounds like hostility of some sort. Animals often express their displeasure with us by inappropriate elimination (we used to have a patient who pissed on the bed when unhappy) or by chewing up our stuff. They’re perfectly capable of singling out one person in a household for this behavior, too. My aunt had to work overtime for a few weeks, and her cat started chewing up her shoes. He never touched anything of anyone else’s, just hers because she was the one he was mad at.
Another possibility is that your girlfriend doesn’t pay much attention to her. Some dogs are perfectly happy being the special pet of one person in the house, but others just can’t rest until everyone loves them. This may be her way of getting attention from your girlfriend. Dolly roots and shoves and licks at Dr.J because getting in trouble for jumping and pushing and pawing is better than being ignored. Again, dogs are like kids; bad attention is better than no attention. Getting in trouble for chewing up shoes is better than being ignored.
FTR, Dolly loves her crate. Sometimes I have to go looking for her because it’s too quiet, and she’s in there having a nap.
I have a 4-month old Weimaraner puppy, and I absolutely echo all of the statements above. I started with crate-training my puppy from the time I got him (about 7 weeks)–he’s always been “accepting” of it, if not necessarily thrilled to be in there. In the last couple of weeks, though, it seems he’s really started taking to it–ie going in without being told, etc., and I’ve spied on him a bit while I’m supposedly away. He sleeps or plays with his toys.
CrazyCatLady brings up an interesting point about some dogs wanting everone to love them. . .the Weim puppy is a little bit of a handful, especially since we haven’t been able to completely desensitize him to the cat (and vice versa–the cat freaks out when he’s around). Anyway, puppy and I end up spending a lot of time playing in the basement, and girlfriend and cat are upstairs. Puppy doesn’t get lots of attention from girlfriend. Whenever he sees her, the tail starts wagging 100 mph and he goes nuts. Girlfriend doesn’t like getting jumped and pushed on so much. Any chance he gets, he grabs hold of any of her shoes, slippers, garments, etc. and goes trotting through the house like he’s claimed a prize (it’s actually pretty cute). He definitely wants attention from her.
It is easiest to crate train a young young young puppy, but older puppies and dogs can be trained too. The main thing is to take it sloooooowly, don’t expect to just be able to shove him in there and leave him right off the bat (though I’m sure you know that ). Do a google search for crate training, and plenty of good stuff will come up.
Crates are completely acceptable and in no way inhumane if used properly. When used appropriately dogs love their crates and view them as their own private living space. They will gladly go in their crate entirely on their own.
A few notes on their use:
[ul]
[li] Be certain to size the crate correctly. The dog should be able to stand in the crate without having to crouch (it’s ok if the dog can’t have its head held high in this case). They should certainly be able to sit without their head touching the top. The dog should also be able to lie on its side with legs straight out (i.e. back against one wall without legs touching the other wall). Understand your dog is still growing. Either buy for her future size or plan on buying more than one crate (given that she is 8 months old now go for her full future size).[/li]
[li] Introduce the dog to the crate as a ‘fun’ thing. Setup the crate and leave the door open. Throw some treats and/or toys in the crate and encourage the dog to go in after them (you also might throw an old t-shirt or something else with your smell on it that you don’t care much about in the crate). DO NOT FORCE HER. Let her go in and out at her whim. After awhile, when the dog is in there, close the door behind her but stay in the room with her. Let her play with the door closed but if she wants out let her out right away (at first). Do the crate training where you are spending time. She won’t go near it if it is in a different room at first…she wants to be near you. Feed and water the dog in her crate too (you can buy dish holders that clamp on the side of the crate if you like…less chance for her to spill her food/water). Over time close the door behind her and leave the room for a short period (just a minute or two) then come back and let her out. Slowly increase this time. The whole process might take a week or more (or maybe just a day or two…depends on the dog). DO NOT GIVE IN TO WHIMPERING…even if it tears at your heart and/or drives you nuts. Let her out on your schedule…not hers.[/li]
[li] When letting the dog out of the crate IGNORE her. Don’t go for the immediate play and display of affection. Do not let her out immediately upon returning home. Preferably walk by the crate so she can see you without letting her out. You need only do this for a minute or two…just so she knows that you walking in the door does not equate to out of the crate. When you open the door and she runs out ignore her for another minute. Getting ‘out’ should not be seen by her has a treat where she gets love and play. Again only ignore her for a minute or two so being let out and play do not connect in her mind.[/li]
[li] DO NOT use the crate as punishment. Down the road, once she is well familiar and settled with the crate you can command her into it if she is out of hand but for now the crate should only be a good thing in her mind. Even then be careful of making the crate a place of punishment…it’s her home and she should always be comfortable with it.[/li]
[li] Always leave toys in her crate and water so she will use it even when you are home. Don’t leave her in there with nothing to occupy her.[/li]
[li] Over time many of the things above can be ignored. Once the crate is old hat to her you can let her out right away, play with her right away and so on. Just leave her a few months to get fully used to it.[/li][/ul]
I have a German Shepherd as well…have had them nearly my entire life. they are great dogs but too smart sometimes for their own good. They need clear guidance and leadership and will thrive on it. She wants to make you happy. Praise her to no end when she chews an appropriate toy…she’ll get the message. My dog chewed a few pairs of shoes between 6-12 months of age. We crate trained her, gave her abundant toys (she destroys most of them but a Kong is truly great…nearly indestructible and she loves it) and obedience training. Her crate is now long gone and she will spend hours alone and not destroy a thing (doesn’t even get into the garbage).
Enjoy your dog! Dogs are the best and German Shepherds are the best of the best! (IMNSHO)
